About JR – Design Build Architect
Built from the ground up — literally.
Joshua Richards started his career swinging a hammer. Before the architecture license, before the code certifications, there were years in the field as a carpenter — learning how buildings actually go together, where drawings fall short, and what contractors deal with when the plans don't match reality.
That foundation shaped everything that followed. He went on to work as an expert witness for a construction defect litigation firm, diagnosing the failures that happen when design, documentation, and construction oversight break down. Then as a residential developer, running projects from land acquisition through certificate of occupancy. Then eight years as a building code consultant, advising on regulatory compliance, plan review strategy, and code interpretation across residential and commercial projects.
The architecture license and four ICC certifications — in residential and commercial building inspection and plans examination — came on top of all of that. Not as an entry point into the industry, but as the formal credential of someone who had already spent decades inside it.
JR – Design Build Architect was founded on that accumulated perspective. Design work here is informed by how buildings are built, how code officials evaluate submittals, how contractors read drawings, and what goes wrong when any of those layers aren't coordinated.
Professional Background
Joshua Richards has over two decades of experience across residential design, commercial projects, code consulting, and construction administration.
His career spans both sides of the building industry — as a designer responsible for project delivery, and as a technical reviewer responsible for regulatory compliance. That dual fluency is what JR – Design Build Architect was built on.
Licensure & Certifications
Joshua Richards holds professional licensure and technical certifications that reinforce disciplined project leadership.
ICC Certified Residential Building Inspector
ICC Certified Commercial Building Inspector
ICC Certified Residential Plans Examiner
ICC Certified Commercial Plans Examiner
These credentials reflect a detailed understanding of building systems, regulatory standards, and plan review expectations — strengthening both design development and construction-phase oversight.
How the Practice Works
Architecture here is treated as a continuous technical process, not a handoff sequence. Design decisions carry regulatory consequences. Construction conditions affect design intent. The phases are connected, and the oversight reflects that.
In practice, this means clients receive early clarity on code constraints before they harden into design commitments. It means documentation is built to withstand plan review — not revised after it fails. And it means construction administration isn't a formality; it's a structured check against what was actually specified.
Whether the project is a custom residence or a commercial feasibility study, the objective is the same: reduce the gap between what's designed, what's approved, and what gets built.
Owner-Focused by Structure
JR – Design Build Architect is organized around a single principle: the owner's interest is the constant.
This shapes how projects are evaluated — through the lens of long-term value, regulatory exposure, contractual clarity, and documentation discipline. It shapes how decisions are communicated — directly, with the reasoning included. And it shapes what gets escalated versus absorbed.
This approach is particularly relevant in higher-stakes projects — luxury residential work, commercial development, and owner representation engagements — where coordination complexity and financial scale require steady, structured guidance from someone not selling anything else.
Serving Portland & Southwest Washington
The practice serves the Greater Portland Metro Area and Southwest Washington, including Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, and Clackamas County.
Familiarity with Oregon Structural Specialty Code provisions, Portland Bureau of Development Services processes, Washington County permitting frameworks, and regional zoning patterns supports more informed decision-making from the first conversation — not just at submittal.
A Principal-Led Practice
Every engagement at JR – Design Build Architect receives direct involvement from Joshua Richards — from initial feasibility through construction completion. There is no project manager layer between the client and the architect of record.
If you're looking for thoughtful design, structured execution, and regulatory strategy grounded in real technical experience, a consultation is the right place to start.
A Measured, Disciplined Practice
JR – Design Build Architect is intentionally structured as a focused, principal-led practice. Each engagement receives direct oversight, technical involvement, and coordinated leadership from concept through completion.
Clients seeking thoughtful design, structured execution, and informed regulatory strategy are invited to begin with a consultation.